Italian Pilsner
Trillium Brewing Company

Look- golden with very lively bubbles. Big white pillowy head that holds retention 5

Smell- grassy, floral, crackers, lemon noted. 4.75

Taste- bready notes with citrus. Very hop forward 4.50

Feel- crispy and bubbly with a creamy finish 4.50

Overall- Very enjoyable pilsner. Really exceeded my expectations 4.5

My goodness, I have had plenty of west coast Italian pilsners that I have deemed good, but this one has left me wondering if I have been grading too eagerly. Extremely tight and clean with lemony sweetness that just works so well. Not sure if this is what an italian pilsner style should be but my god does it taste well. I would say it works since the style is so new and finding its footing.

Appearance: Yellow-hued, scantly hazy with an initial surge and flush of white suds. Light lacing.

Smell: A tight, clean, crackery graininess with a steely, dry herbal/floral hop tone.

Taste: Has a herbaceous hop quality that leads off and lasts throughout the flavor. Lightly bready barley with a faint wisp of golden syrup sweetness and a sustained grainy note. Cleansing bitterness at the midpoint with a little bit of that lasting into the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation. A good level of crisposity.

Overall: A well-executed, solid beverage.

 

On tap, pours a clear light gold with a nice white head of foam. I must confess that I don't know what an Italian pilsner is supposed to taste like, but this one is very good. A little sweeter than most pilsners, but it's offset by a solid bitterness. Excellent beer.

(16? oz mug draft serving at the Fort Point location last week... review rearranged from notes taken then, with added thoughts in parentheses)

clear, yellow-gold liquid... (nose and palate) lavender-floral... lemon pepper (dominant hop character)... malty-waffle note in the finish, carrying through the aftertaste... white grapefruit later (pithy bitterness and rind fruity essence)

what more I can recall: pretty sure this was the first of the two (or three?!) draft servings I tried there, on a day where I was heading to a beer festival (NERAX) that evening, and didn't really need to pre-game; I was, however, only in town for one full day, so what was I supposed to do?!?... I try pilsner every chance I get at breweries, and this one was quite a standout; could've had a few... super potent in its intensity and depth of flavor expressions... a home run, well done (2132)

Can from Roswell Beer Market April 2023

Appearance: Pale straw gold, slight hazy. Highly effervescent with fast rising bubbles. Fluffy head with good retention.

Aroma: Hoppy - Herbal and floral.

Flavor & Aftertaste: Spicy & herbal hops. Bread flour, cracker-like malt Low sweetness. Moderate bitterness. Alcohol is not detectable. No esters or phenols.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied. High carbonation. Drying. Short, clean dry finish.

Overall: 1st Trillium Beer for me. Also, first "domestic" Italian style pilsner. First thing that strikes you is how it has a champaign-like effervescence. It does delivers on what is still a developing style description but generally, it's a hop forward pilsner. Very nice herbal and floral aroma (not every beer has to smell like a citrus or tropical fruit basket). Flavor leans spicy & herbal hops with bread flour or cracker-like malt, light to medium bodied with a dry finish. Has a firm, bracing bitterness but does not linger too long or build. Nice clean, refreshing finish. Made with Sterling hops and 100% pilsner malt. Well crafted.